This may be a phrase you would expect to hear from Knock Airport but certainly not Knock Shrine; well, think again. The message coming from the youth ministry at the Shrine to all young people of Ireland is, come to Knock to take time out and a break from life’s journey.
The Knock Summer Festival will kick off this June from 24 to 26. Knock Shrine are expecting hundreds of young people (18-35 ) to descend on the site where Our Lady appeared on a wet August evening in 1879. The festival is a three day event and over the three days, marquees are erected and turned into venues you would expect to see at a festival such as Oxegen or Electric Picnic.
Ronan Johnston will open this year’s festival with a talk titled from the theme ‘Fuel for the journey’. Ronan’s talk will explore where we are on our journey, what is driving us, fuelling us, and what our destination point is. Ronan will be followed by a line up of top quality speakers, workshop facilitators who are experts in their field, and a Christian rock band. Friday night of the festival sees hip hop dancers, drummers, and a concert with Ireland’s top Christian band Elation. Saturday sees talks, workshops, a barbecue, candlelight procession, reconciliation, and loads of time to chill out with a cup of coffee and a chance to meet some new people. On Sunday, participants will get the chance to hear from other young people who got involved in their parish, dioceses or a voluntary organisation.
Knock will fly one of their speakers, Lino Rulli, from New York. Lino is a radio host and has earned his nickname ‘the Catholic guy’ from hosting a series of Catholic programmes and radio shows. Lino is a three time Emmy award winner and has won most of the nation’s top awards in journalism. He will address the festival with a talk on ‘Living a Catholic life in a secular world’.
“This festival has been a great success in the past and we want it to continue and grow. Yes it’s a difficult time in the Catholic Church but people are still searching and looking for God. In today’s Ireland a lot of people feel lost and unsure of what to do and where to go. This weekend can give people a chance to step out of the busyness of everyday life and explore what they really want and how they can get it,” says Helen Toner, one of the organisers of the event.
Your image of Knock may be one of dusty prayer books and worn out rosary beads, but that image may well change after this weekend in Knock. “It’s not just for ‘practising Catholics’, it is for all people who may want to explore their faith, come closer to God, or indeed just to come for a look,” explained Helen.
All events take place in marquees. The cost of the event is €70 including food, accommodation and access to everything that goes on over the weekend.
For more information contact 094 938 8100/087 692 7850 or visit www.knock-shrine.ie/youthfestival
